Metallic packing.



No. 738,129. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903. v

E. W.*TUGKER.

META PAC G.

APPLIOATI ED IA 1902.

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" LTL j AE i Y No. 738,129. PATBNTED sBPT..-1, 190s. E. W. TUCKER. METALLIC PACKING.

` APPLICATION FILED MAB. 21', 1902. No MODEL. 5 SHEBTIFSEEET 2.

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E. W. TUCKER.

METALLIC PACKING.

PATENT-ED SEPT. l, 1903.

APPLIOATTOI FILED IAB. 21, 1902.'

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5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 738,129. PATENTED SEPT. l, 1903;.'

' E. W. TUCKER.

METALLIC PACKING.:

APPLICATION FILED IAB. 2.1, 19'02..

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4` ID IODEL.

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WITNESSES IN1/EN 0R.

PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903.

E. W. TUCKER. METALLIC PACKING. APYLIUATIONHLED un. 21, 19024 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

v N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES- i Patented September 1, 19023.

EDWIN IV. TUCKER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

METALLIC PACKING.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 38,129, dated September 1,Y 1903.

Application filed March 21, 1902. Serial No. 99,361. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWIN W. TUeKER, a citizen of the United States, residing' at and whose post-office address is S18 Page street, in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Packing; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.

This invention relates to improvements in metallic packing7 and particularly the assemblage in the stutling-box and packing-case of sectional metallic packing for piston-rods, valve-stems, the.

The objects accomplished by this invention are complete accommodation for the oscillation el' piston-rods within stuffing-box and packingcase, accommodation for the diametrical inequalities and surface depression in piston-rods, and to provide a packing compact, effective, and capable of m athematicallycalculable alterations to suit various conditions of pressure in the fluid er vapor operated with, and, further, to so construct, combine, and operate the various parts that the adjustments shall remain unaii'ected by the wearing away of the packing members.

The invention broadly consists of a stuffingbox and packing-case having diametricallyreduced end openings allowing a free play of the piston-rod and having the inner edge of said openings ceneavely beveled to accommodate ball-shaped members between which compression-rings operate to contract about the piston-rod, a series of packing-rings having cone shaped ends cooperating with the compression-rings and springs operating between thc compression-rings and packingrings for longitudinal compression, and gartersprings encircling the packingrings to cause same to hug the piston-rod independent of the compression-rings and fluid-pressure.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is illustrated with particular reference to its application to marine and other upright types of engines.

Figure l is a longitudinal cross-section of a cylinder-head, showing a stuiing-box and packing-case constructed lin accordance with this invention as applied to inverted cylinders. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the invention as applied to tandem compound engines, the upper representing the high-pressure end and the lower representing the low-pressure', the di iterentiation in construction ol the two sets of packing being disclosed later in the speciiication. Fig. 3 is a similar View of the invention, the high pressure packing being inclosed and operating independent of the Huid-pressure of the engine. Fig. 4. is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail in cross-section on the line l 1, Fig. a, of the packing-rings illustrated in Fig. 1.' Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the sectional packingring used in the construction illustrated in lower section of Fig. 3, showing the coperation of the segmental ring and feed-block, partly broken away to better show construction. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the application Vof the supplemental block used when the feed-'block has worn away beyond the influence of the encircling spring. Fig. 8 is aside elevation of a built-up'packing made up of segmental rings arranged in breakjoint for use with heavy pressures and where the piston-rod is particularly out of alinement or irregular. Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the same on the line 2 2, Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. l1 is a cross-section of the saine on the line 3 3, Fig. 10. Fig. 12is an end elevation of the packing'- rings when used, showing shoulders to prevent fluid-pressure from exerting undue friction against piston-rod. Fig. 13 is a similar view showing one of the shoulders operating in reverse direction.

In the description with reference to the drawings similar letters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In construction the invention consists in placing in the top of the usual stuffing-box A the annular seat B, of suitable wearing texture, concavely beveled on the inner surface to accommodate the convex bevel on the bearing-ring B. The ring B is directly supported by the cushioning-springs C2, placed at intervals in the compression-ring C5. The compression-rings C' and C2 have an internal at bevel overriding the cone ends of the packing-ring D, extending between the said rings. The ring C2 abuts the bearing-ring B2, which cooperates with seat B3 to form a steam-tight ball-joint.

The parts in the combination j ust described are kept seated (that is, in close contact with their respective coperative parts) by the cushion-springs C2. In this manner all lost motion is eliminated and hammering prevented and provision made for expansion and contraction of the metal.

A plurality of packings may be used in a single set of paekin g byinterposing the duplicating double-beveled compression-ring C3, Fig. l.

The packing-ring consists of an annular block divided on its diameter into separate pieces iitted together with a mortise-jointJ formed by setting the block in a lathe and turning a circular cut Dl in the faced edge of the female block D2 transverse of its bore to engage a projection similarly formed on the male block D3, or the parts may be joined by a straightoifsetjoint,as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.

The packingring blocks D2 and D3 are formed of abland metal of even texture, good wearing qualities, and absolutely free from a disposition to cut the piston-rod. For this purpose I use a metal of my own composition known as Tucker metal, resembling Babbitt metal. After the blocks D2 and D3 are faced, jointed, and bored the metal shell (brass) D4, in two sections, is fitted over them, the joints inthe shell being offset or out of coincidence with the joints in the blocks, the blocks and shell having external and internal grooves,

respectively, engaging to cause the pressurebreaker thus built up to act as an integral whole. The pin DI", riveted to the shell and projectinginwardly, engages a hole in one of the blocks to maintain the permanency of the break-jointbetween them and the shell. (See Fig. 5.) The garter-springs D encircling the packing-rings cause it to hug the piston-rod, at all times keeping the parts snugly in plaee. Particular attention is directed to the angle of the cone ends of the pressurebreaker. The fluid-pressure acting upon the compression-rings drives them against the ends of the packing-rings, causing a contractile action therein proportionate with the Huid-pressure exerted. The pressure to be overcome bein g known, the angle is made to correspond.

In tandem compound enginesthat is, where two degrees of pressure are exerted upon the same piston-rod-the packing is duplieated, as in Fig. This double use is effected by interpcsin g the annular separating middle section B", having contraposed concave bevels to accommodate the bearingrin gs l and B2. This section is held in place by the packing-case A', bolted to the face of the cylinder-head coincident with the bore of the stuffing-box. The packing-case A has the annular channel A2 adjacent to the seat 33 filled with a soft material orwiper, which is kept saturated with oil, which is carried into the packing-ease bythe reciprocations of the joints.

piston-rod. To prevent-the soft material or wiper from working into the bearing-seat B3 or interfering therewith, the internal annular flange A3 is interposed. The difference in the angle of taper in the two sets of pressurebreakers in Fig. 2 is for the purpose specified with regard to the differing huid-pressures, the upper section being high, the lower section being low pressure.

A further advantage in the double use of the complete packing in one stuffing-box (even with only one fluid-pressure acting upon the piston) is that it allows a long packing to be used, at the same time taking up the oscilla'tion of the pistonrod with four ball- The transverse strains are more evenly distributed throughout the packing, adding to its life and efficiency. vWhere desirable, one set of packing may be reversedthat is, the compression-rings C' may be placed at both extremes of the stuffing-box and packing-case adjacent the bearing-rings B/ and B2.

A modification of the double use above described is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein very high pressures are .to be handled. The upper section remains unaltered, except that the internal bearing-surface of the Packing-ring is increased. In the lower section the coinpression-ring C is supplanted by the annular casing C", having the head G5 tightly fitted therein to form, in connection with the pistonrod, a easing as nearly as possible hernietical. In this manner the packing-blocks are insulated from the extreme high fluid-pressure, which is likely to interfere with its proper working. The sections of the packing in this instance are made up of flat segmental rings D7, open to pass the piston-rod, the ends bcing adjacent and parallel to admit` the feedbloek DS. The outer perimeter of the ring DTis elliptical to permit the encircling spring DG to engage the feed-block D8 to keep same seated against the piston-red. As the feedblocks wear away beyond the iniiuence of the spring they are pieced with the extensionpieces D. The -rings DT and feed-blocks DS consist of a hollow brass casing illed with Tucker metal before finishing. (Sec dotted lines and broken-away portions oi' Figs. G and 7.) The rings DT are place-din the casing C", with the feed -blocks placed on the quarter. (See Fig. G, dotted lines.) In this manneralateral pressure is exerted throughout the circumference of the piston-rod. The separating-plate D10 is interposed between the rings Dito prevent them freezing together. This is liable to occur, particularly if the ring is made integrally of Tucker metal without the brass casing. The rings are prevented from turning upon the piston-rod by the recesses Du Vengaging a pin extending through the separating-washer D10.

Figs. S to ll, inclusive, illustrate a pressurebreaker made up of segmental rings B12, divided tangenitally from the center bore and from opposite sides of the bore, the comlog IIC-

plete rings being circumferentially grooved to accommodate the gartersprings D6. The rings are built up around the piston-rod in break-joint-that is, with no two joints coinciding. This order is preserved by means of interlocking lugs and recesses D13. The cone ends D14 may be divided tangentially or at right an gles,the latter being cheaper and practically as effective at this particular point. This type of packing is particularly desirable in repair-work where the piston-rod is badly out of alinement or uneven. The cone-end rings are bored to snugly pass the largest diameter in the piston-rod. The rings D7 being expansive, hug into depressions in the rod. On an uneven rod the packing-rings can be seen to breathe as the inequalities pass through it.

The constructions illustrated in Figs. l2 and 13 show the form given the packing-rings DT when used as packing for heavy pressures. The rings are fitted snugly to the smallest part of the piston-rod and held in place by the garter-springs D, which allow a lateral outward movement. The shoulders D15 prevent the enveloping fluid pressure forcing the parts inwardly again st the piston-rod and producing undue friction.

To properly perform their function, the annular compression-rings C C2 and casing C* must have an unbroken continuity. This necessitates under certain conditions the insertion of the annular segments C6 adjacent the piston-rod. (See Fig. 3.) This construction permits the rings to pass any enlargement on the end of the piston-rod.

The annular extension A" from the stuffing-box into the cylinder inclosing the pistonrod is provided to prevent condensation draining into the stufng-box. To relieve any flooding that may occur in the stuffing-box, the drain Afgconnected with the condenser,is provided.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed, and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a packing for piston-rods, the combination with an inclosing casing, of a series of soft-metal packing-rings, garter-springs encircling said packing-rings, a hard-metal casing surrounding said packing rings and springs,and springs seated in a portion of said hard-,metal casing and adapted to keep the said packing-rings in close relation.

2. In a packing for piston-rods or the like, the combination with an inclosing casing, of a series of packing-rings comprising soft-metal interiors and harder-metal casings, means abutting said. soft-metal interior to cause constriction to the piston rod, and auxiliary means to assist in said constriction.

In a packing for piston-rods or the like, the combination with an inclosin g casing, of a series of packing-rings,comprising soft-metal interiors and harder-metal casings, means almtting said soft-metal interiors aud said harder-metal casings to cause constriction to the piston-rod',and annular springs encircling said harder-metal casings to assist in said constriction.

4. In a packing for piston-rods or the like,

the combination with a stuffing-box, of a series of packing-rings having cone-shaped end rings, cups fitting said cone-shaped end rings, annular rings having a convex surface, seats in the stuffing-box to receive the conveX surface of said annular ring, said seats and annular ring free from the piston-rod, and cushion means seated in said cups and abutting said annular ring, whereby it is allowed free oscillation upon the seats.

5. In a packing for piston-rods or the like, the combination with a stuffing-box, of a series of diametrically-split packing-rings, a casing inclosing said packing-rings, an annular ring having a convex surface, means seated in said inclosing casing and abutting said annular ring for forcing the packingrings into contact, and garter-springs within said casing and encircling said packing-rings whereby they are held in contact with the piston-rod.

G. In a packing for piston-rods or the like, the combination with'a stuffing-box, of a series of packing-rings consisting of diametrically-split soft-metal interiors, open rings arranged in break-j oint and forming a casin g for the sof t-metal interior, springs encircling said rings and tending to constrict them, and means on the rings for holding them in breakjoint relation.

7. In a packing for piston-rods or the like, the combination with a stu fling-box, of a packing-case, an annular partition held in place between the stuffing-box and packing-case and having contraposed concave bevels, convex-faced bearing-rings abutting against same, a series of split packing-rings having cone ends, annular pressure-rings abutting against said cone ends, and springs seated in said pressure-rings adapted to hold the parts in proper relation on the piston-rod.

8. In combination with a packing for pistonrods, a split packing-ring consisting of a softmetal interior having depressions therein, a hard-metal casing surrounding said soft-metal interior, depressions in its exterior adapted to receive garter springs, said depression forming raised portions on its interior which prevents longitudinal displacement on the soft-metal interior.

9. ln a packing for piston-rods, and like constructions, the combination with an inclosing stuffing-box, of a plurality of packing-rings divided diametrically, said diametrical division having a lateral offset resilient members encircling said packing-rings; annular ball-shaped members abutting the ends of said packing-rings; seatsin the stuffingboX to receive, and upon which said ballshaped members are adapted to rock and turn; substantially as described.

IOO

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IIS

l0. In apaeking for piston-rods, the eombiof said easing for holding the packing-rings nation With an inelosing easing, of a series of and partitions in Close relation. 1o

soft-metal packing-rings, hard-metal pznti- In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set tions between said soft-metal packing-rings, l my hznnl this 11th day of March, 1902.

springs surrounding' said packing-rings and I EDVIN W'. TUCKER. normally tending to eonstrot them, a harcllVitnesses: y meta-l easing surrounding said packing-rings i BALDWIN VALE, and partitions, and means seated in :L portion i G. F. HATTON. 

